Baughurst Community Orchard

Site Details

The What3Words location of the centre of the site is ///think.firework.imported. It shows the site and the location of over 45m of hedging and the initial 22 trees.

Planting Complete

Planting was carried out on 8th February 2025 when over 50 members of the community, including some very interested children, came along to plan the trees and hedging whips. The team started their work at 11:00am helped along by supplies of cakes and hot drinks from the neighbours.

The planting of the Community Orchard is here.

Guards added to protect orchard trees

On 2 March 2025 we tested the process for adding guards to the trees in the orchard to protect against wildlife, accidental damage (from grass cutting, for instance) and also vandalism. The process was carefully worked out and on 5 April 2025 a small group completed the task of adding guards to all 22 trees. Many thanks to Nigel Williamson, Chris Evans, Rhys Clark, Russell Clark, Anne Ayres, Laurie Ayres and Colin Cooper for their hard work.

Spring Arrives with new growth

The arrival of spring has heralded blossom appearing on the newly planted trees and growth appearing on the hedge whips. Our thanks to all those who continue to water the plants during the spring and summer hot weather.

Easter Egg Hunt 18 April

The Easter weekend would not be complete without an Easter Egg hunt for the children. Chris and Nikki Evans set up and ran the first Good Friday Easter Egg hunt at the Baughurst Community Orchard, Long Grove where various fruit trees were planted in February 2025 on a parish donated plot of land.

Just after 10am, families with children came, paid £1 entry fee per child and got the clue sheet. Nine clues were dotted around the Woodlands estate for the answer to the clues.

In all, over 100 parents and children took part. Some brought their dogs along. The children were each rewarded with an Easter Eggs for their efforts.

“It was such a wholesome way to start the Easter weekend. Our kids really got into the clues, and it was lovely watching them piece everything together.”

“We were so impressed by how well it was organised – and all for £1!. Really appreciated having something local, low-cost and fun over Easter. “ “Honestly, we didn’t expect it to be that much fun – but it was brilliant. The kids loved it, we got some fresh air, and even the dog got a good walk out of it.”

“It brought people together and gave the children something different to do. It might have been the first, but it definitely shouldn’t be the last!”

Based on the positive feedback,  the organisers are looking to make this an annual Good Friday event.

Orchard Tree Details

The trees we have ordered for the initial phase of the orchard are:

Apple Varieties

1. Falstaff (Rootstock: MM106)
   • Type: Dessert Apple
   • Pollination Group: 3
   • Notes: Falstaff is self-fertile and also serves as a good pollinator for other apple trees. It produces crisp, juicy apples with a sweet flavour.
2. Katy (Rootstock: MM106)
   • Type: Dessert Apple
   • Pollination Group: 3
   • Notes: Partially self-fertile; yields improve with a pollination partner. Katy apples are bright red, with a refreshing taste, perfect for eating fresh or making cider.
3. Cox’s Orange Pippin (Rootstock: MM106)
   • Type: Dessert Apple
   • Pollination Group: 3
   • Notes: Requires a pollination partner. It’s renowned for its rich, complex flavour—an all-time favourite among apple enthusiasts.
4. Bramley (Rootstock: MM106)
   • Type: Culinary (Cooking) Apple
   • Pollination Group: 3 / 4
   • Notes: Bramley is a triploid variety, meaning it needs two different pollination partners. It’s the quintessential cooking apple, known for its sharp taste that mellows when cooked.
5. Grenadier (Rootstock: MM106)
   • Type: Culinary (Cooking) Apple
   • Pollination Group: 2
   • Notes: Not self-fertile; requires a pollination partner. Grenadier is one of the earliest cooking apples, great for making sauces and pies.
6. James Grieve (Rootstock: MM106)
   • Type: Dual-purpose Apple (Dessert and Culinary)
   • Pollination Group: 2
   • Notes: Partially self-fertile; better crops with cross-pollination. It’s versatile—tart when picked early, sweetening as it matures.
7. Discovery (Rootstock: MM106)
   • Type: Dessert Apple
   • Pollination Group: 3
   • Notes: Partially self-fertile; benefits from a pollination partner. Discovery is early-ripening, with a sweet flavour and a hint of strawberry.
8. Jelly King Crab Apple
   • Type: Crab Apple
   • Pollination Group: 3
   • Notes: An excellent pollinator for the orchard. Produces large, bright pink fruits ideal for jellies and attract pollinators like bees.
9. Braeburn Clone Hillwell (Rootstock: MM106) 4 off
   • Type: Dessert Apple
   • Pollination Group: 4
   • Notes: Vigorous and productive, but low maintenance.  Crisp, red-skinned fruit with balanced flavour, good for eating or suitable for baking and salads.

Pear Varieties

1. Conference (Rootstock: Quince A) 4 off
   • Type: Dessert Pear
   • Pollination Group: 3
   • Notes: Partially self-fertile but yields improve with a pollination partner. Conference pears are sweet, juicy, and reliable performers.
2. Williams’ Bon Chrétien (Green William) (Rootstock: Quince A)
   • Type: Dessert Pear
   • Pollination Group: 3
   • Notes: Not self-fertile; requires a pollination partner. Known for its aromatic, buttery flesh—delicious fresh or in desserts.

Plum Variety

1. Victoria (Rootstock: St. Julien A) 4 off
   • Type: Dual-purpose Plum (Dessert and Culinary)
   • Pollination: Self-fertile
   • Notes: No pollination partner needed. Victoria is a classic plum with sweet, juicy fruits—great eaten fresh or used in jams.

Damson Variety

1. Shropshire Prune (Rootstock: St. Julien A)
   • Type: Damson (Culinary)
   • Pollination: Partially Self-fertile
   • Notes: Will fruit on its own, but a nearby plum or damson can boost yields. It produces small, rich-flavoured fruits perfect for preserves and baking.

Tree Location Details

Additional Information

• Pollination Groups: Fruit trees are grouped based on their flowering time. Trees in the same or adjacent groups can cross-pollinate.
  • Group 2: Early flowering
  • Group 3: Mid-season flowering
  • Group 4: Late flowering
• Rootstocks:
  • MM106 (Apples): Semi-vigorous; ideal for medium-sized trees. Good balance between size and fruiting.
  • Quince A (Pears): Semi-vigorous; produces a moderate-sized tree with good fruit production.
  • St. Julien A (Plums/Damsons): Semi-vigorous; suitable for a range of soil conditions and produces reliable crops.

Cross-Pollination Tips

Shropshire Prune benefits from nearby plum trees for increased yield.

Apples:

Since many of the apple varieties are in Group 3, they can effectively pollinate each other. Braeburn apples are self-fertile, which means they do not necessarily need another apple variety to pollinate and produce fruit. However, having a compatible pollination partner can improve fruit yield and quality. Some good pollination partners for Braeburn include Cox’s Orange Pippin, Discovery, and Golden Delicious.

Bramley is a triploid; it cannot pollinate other trees but needs two other different varieties nearby for good fruit set.

Jelly King Crab Apple is a fantastic pollinator for all the apples, extending the pollination period due to its abundant blossoms.

Pears:

Both Conference and Williams’ Bon Chrétien are in Group 3 and can cross-pollinate.

Conference being partially self-fertile means it will produce fruit alone but will yield more with a partner.

Plums and Damsons:

Victoria is self-fertile but will produce heavier crops with a pollination partner.